Aarhus University Seal

Danish students participate in an international competition

23-24 October, the European student competition BISC-E holds its first European final in Berlin. BISC-E, which is a competition in the field of bioeconomy, encourages students to take an interest in recycling of biological resources and development of bio-based products and processes. The Center for Circular Bioeconomy, which is part of Aarhus University, is represented by a team of students this year.

[Translate to English:] Foto: Jesper Rais - AU Foto

BISC-E stands for “Biobased Innovation Student Challenge Europe.” It is a competition where students compete in developing ideas for a process or product that is both economical and sustainable. The ideas can come from e.g. a semester project, an exam assignment or perhaps a business collaboration. It may also be something that the participants have thought of all by themselves.

At the final, students will present their proposals, and demonstrate that they are technically feasible in addition to being financially and environmentally sustainable. All the proposals are judged by a panel of judges, chaired by Nelo Emerencia from the organisation BioBased Industries .

The Danish team

The Danish team is called Team BioKraut. Niels Mark Jacobsen, who completed his Master's Degree in Agro-Environmental Management this summer, has, together with Asbjørn Madsen, devised an idea to develop a non-toxic alternative to herbicides. That idea gave them first place at the Danish competition held earlier this year, and with it a direct ticket to the European final in Berlin.

The final will start with an introductory round in which all participants present their ideas. The judging panel selects the top three to advance to the final round. Here, each idea is judged on how sustainable it is, whether it will be technologically feasible and whether it is economically viable.

The European final will be held on 23-24. October in Berlin. Read more about the competition here


About BISC-E:

BISC-E was developed by the Dutch University of Wageningen. In Denmark, Aarhus University's Center for Circular Bioeconomy (CBIO) is the competition.